This project will be a #Suzuki #Jimny JB23W body, retaining its factory separate chassis, modified to suit all the running gear from a Nissan Silvia S15!

The car will feature an easily removable body, that will flip up to better display Kinokuni products on the chassis, much like our existing display buggy. Our fluid and electrical quick release products will be used !

Stacked, Inc. in Sakai city, Osaka, will be responsible for building the platform, then to be brought to our shop in Iwade city later in the year for a fit-out of our current products and some new ones as well.﻿﻿﻿﻿

Drift Tengoku, a sister magazine of the Option group have released a DVD showing the Kinokuni race car with footage from the 2016 Tokyo Auto Salon, a rained out Fuji photo shoot and a D1 drift event in Tokyo. It is a great PR boost which we hope will continue. Getting the car running for the Tokyo Show was a major achievement so many thanks to the team members who have added their expertise over 2016. Hopefully we will be in Tokyo again in a couple weeks for another D1 Drift event where the latest tweaks to YB2 can be evaluated then straight into the January Tokyo Auto Salon.

Nov. 12th

まだ昼間は暖かい気候のため作業をするのが楽しいですね。

ブレーキのタッチがしっかりしていないので、問題が解決されることを願って、

新しいアイデアをいくつか組み込んでみます。

With the weather still warm working on the car is still fun. During testing we found that the brake pedal was not firm and didn't have a confident feel to it. Some new ideas have been incorporated in the hope that the problem has been solved. The interior had another revamp to the wiring and the console was completed. We are happy to have secured Zestino as a tire sponsor .http://www.zestinoracing.com/

配線と部品の配置を検討中

Slowly the wiring details and parts location are coming together.

パーキングロックバルブの位置を検討中

Two team members discussing the location of a hole for the parking brake.

次回の走行が楽しみです！

Looking better all the time and waiting for the next track test of Kinokuni's products.

October 26th

10月2日に行われた #京都ヒルクライム の模様が収録されています

その中でYB2が車輛の紹介をしていただきました

ぜひお近くのコンビニ・書店でお買い求めください！

m(_ _)m

The largest car magazine in Japan will have a write up of the Kyoto Hill Climb with an in depth article on the YB2 chassis. It will be available from 10/2 at most book shops and convenience stores in Japan.

October 23rd

当日の天候は、どんより曇り空。ダイバーシティの隣で開催された

D1イベントへ10/22・10/23の2日間参加してきました今回はビデオオプションの撮影が主であり、

当日は人気ドライバー谷口信輝氏がYB2のインプレッション走行が目的です

実は3月に一度撮影をしていたのですが

車輌状態も万全ではなく走行も真面に行えなかったのがホントのところです

出展者リストにも表示は無くイベントのゲストとして会場入りしたYB2ですが、

到着してみると正門入口の正面とても良い位置に置くことができました

結果といえば上々の仕上がり具合で撮影も問題なく撮り終え

スタッフ一同ホッと胸を撫で下ろしたのはココだけの話ですｗ

これから東京オートサロンに向け改善ポイントを修正していかなければなりません。

The weather has been good for the Pro D1 event held within Tokyo City confines outside the major TV Fuji station, It was a 2 day event with our car being used for a demonstration run driven by Taniguchi, who is Japan's most recent popular driver for a photo shoot done by Japan's top car magazine, Option. Remember that they tried in March on a rain soaked Fuji Circuit which was not good enough but this shoot will be on the DVD they incorporate along with a write up in their magazine soon. Because we were only guests at the event Kinokuni had no display however YB2 was in the best position at the main gate entrance for all to see. Thanks to the 2 crew members who drove the truck the 8 hours (incl. stops) each way.

YB2 is still on a safety oriented tune however it finally appears to be reliable so we can now move on to more serious parts testing without worrying so much on car problems.

Not much time left for the Tokyo Auto Salon ( January 13th to 15th) booth to be designed and organized. Come and say hello and see the new products which we have on and tested in YB2. Hopefully they will be in the new catalogue which is being worked on now. Also on Facebook....

The race car will be trucked to Tokyo which is about a 7 hour drive from our area in Osaka (2nd largest city in Japan) for a demonstration run at a D1 Drift Japan event. It is being held in a the large car park in front of one of Japans larger TV companies and will be driven by the current most popular driver in Japan in collaboration with Japan's top car magazine. It is a 2 day event and car will be on display inside the Kinokuni booth.

It's hard to get an invitation to such a big event like this so we are very happy to put in the extra PR work. Although the car is unusual and catches the eye we hope that the revised car with the latest Kinokuni products and ideas for reliable racing perform the way they have done in our tests. Hope the weather is kind to us this time.

October 2nd

４日前のシェイクダウン後、今度は京都ヒルクライムに参加しました。

天候は晴天、前日夜に降った雨の影響か非常に高温多湿な一日でした。

一般参加の皆さまはテクニカルコースとフォレストコースを走行し、

エキシビジョングループはそれぞれのコース中間にあるダウンヒルも含めて

約３km程度を走り切ります！ しかも往復します！！

午前に１回、午後は２回エキシビジョングループとして走行。

多くの皆様に見ていただく事ができました。

また、何事もなく走行を終了しスタッフ全員が安堵に包まれたのはココだけの話です。

しかしこれからの課題や変更点も見つかりましたので

引き続き全力で完成に向けて頑張るしかないようです！！

After a great solid shakedown we entered the picturesque Kyoto Hill Climb which has very sharp hairpins, narrow roads and decreasing radius bends. Weather was HOT and humid but clear skies all day for our 3 runs.

サイドウィンドーにエアーダクトを採用してラジエターに導風。

エンジンは水温92℃・油温105℃で安定しています。これは電動ファンとウォータースプレーシステムを

コンピューターによる温度設定で自動的に起動しています。

We are still on a testing mode so with the added air ducts through the side window venturies the engine water temperatures never went above 92 degrees with oil at 105 degrees. The radiator water spray mist system which is started automatically at a set temperature by the computer all worked well to keep the temperatures in a safe zone.

GoProをリアクロスブレースに取り付けたのですが、

画質は最悪...。ウィンドウの反射や揺れで見れたもんじゃありません。

別の取付位置を検討する必要が出てきました。ただもう１台のカメラは室内のロールバーに固定していたため画像自体は確保が出来ました。

The GoPro mount on the rear cross brace was a good idea but the picture quality was compromised by the reflections in the Perspex bulkhead window so another mounting position will have to be found inside the car. We did have another mounted on the vertical roll bar by the left dash which was angled to show the view forward only.

We will keep learning.

ここからは画像を色々どうぞ

走行に向かいます
With the car off loaded we await for the first run.

１０月上旬にしては非常に日差しの強い日になりました
The tent was set up to shade all from the strong sun along within the strictly race car cars only pit area.

スタートエリアに向かいます
A group of cars line up in the first staging area before the start staging area.

物販・商品の展示は別エリアで行われました。

There was a separate area well away from the racing for commercial booths which customers found it almost impossible to visit due to the closed access of the road.

September 29th

リフレッシュした車輛はダイノでテストした結果360bhpを計測。

木曜日は午前中雨天でしたが鈴鹿ツインサーキットでシェイクダウンを行いました。

With the car fresh off the dyno at 360bhp we had a shakedown at Suzuka Twin Circuit again in light rain which did clear later in the morning,

今回オーバーヒート問題後の最初のテストでした。

主には温度のテストと各部の不具合探しです。

これは良好な結果と情報を得る事が出来ました。

This was the first test after the overheating problems so we were testing temperatures and looking for leaks. All systems performed well and a lot of good information was received.

完成したリヤラジエターです。

The rear mounted radiator has left a good amount of space between the engine and intercooler.

The Haltech computer has allowed the integration of the MSD system and the individual exhaust temps. sensors have helped with the engine mapping. This new system required a revised wiring harness which now passes through the bulkhead with a multi pin connector which is normally used on aircraft systems. There is now 37 pins being used however another connector will be installed to accommodate the still remaining wires.

大型電動ファン２機がそれぞれ設定温度90℃と92℃で動作します。

水温・油温は非常に安定しており、

大容量電動ウォーターポンプの効果が確認できました。

The water and oil temperatures were all very stable and the 2 large fans were coming on at the preset temperatures of 90 and 92 degrees respectively. There is a large volume electric water pump doing a good job supplying cool water back to the engine.

The last typhoon has cooled the temperatures down so it's more fun to work on the race car. We hope to have the first dyno test in the next couple of days which is down to the wire as the Kyoto Hill Climb is next weekend.

We also have been testing tile flooring for the pit area and have been pleasantly surprised at how easily it goes together and disassembly is also easy......when you know how. The extra coloured tiles are just samples of colours and patterns available. This a 10' X 16' size. One foot is the length of your foot or 12".

September 6th

深夜のドナドナ風景

It must be something of a real secret to have moved the race car in the dead of night however it arrived at the dyno and auto electricians in good shape.

September 5th

＼(^o^)／ とうとう車体が完成しました ＼(^o^)／

残すは配線とセッティングのみになりました。

予定では２週間程度かかる模様です。

９月中にはテスト走行してチェックしたいな～。。。

It's a happy day because the race car has finished it's time in the remodel workshop. While basically not a big change the myriad of small details really took time to figure out and blend all the systems together.

You can see that the large radiator shroud took away the space of the fuel system pumps and filters which are now laid flat under the shroud. Although the fuel system looked awesome with the aluminium pipes playing their part in the art work, now its the professional radiator shroud that is awe inspiring.

With a move to the auto electricians and dyno shop the full car harness will be installed then the moment of truth if all the hard work has been worth it. This should happen in 2wks after which it's the car shakedown. Let's hope we can get the car onto the track between the typhoons that are pounding Japan this month.

The Haltech Elite 1500 normally needs a race dash as a data logger to superimpose the gauge overlay onto a GoPro video which we hope to have setup at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January. Kinokuni sell gauges so purchasing a digital dash makes no sense. Haltech have advised us that the CSV files can be taken from the ECU then overlaid onto a video file with the use of the app.

Many man hours on details have us with the motor and rear mounted radiator in place and connected. The fuel system had to be re-plumbed as space was taken up with the radiator and the large water pump. The car will now move to the dyno shop where a new wire harness will connect the Haltech computer and have lights on the car. A Jimny parts company, Auto Cross have supplied us with a LED smoked out rear tail lamps. We hope to have the car setup and ready for a shakedown within 2 to 3 weeks.

August 24th

(^^)/~~~ パンパカパ～ン 発表します！！！

１０月２日に行われる「京都ヒルクライム」に

エキシビジョン車輛として参戦（参加）することが決定しました！！！

イベントの詳細は下記にてご確認ください。

「京都ヒルクライム」：http://special-stage.racing/

当日はブース出展も行いますので、みなさまのご来場をお待ちしております。

On October 2nd 2016 at the Kyoto Hill Climb http://special-stage.racing/we hope to have the race car in great condition and will have a Kinokuni booth set up so please come and visit us.

At the moment the plan is to have YB2 assembled by the end of August after which it will go to the dyno shop where tuning, a new wiring harness and details will be finalized. A shakedown and general parts testing will take place at Suzuka Twin Circuit with a lot of meetings and preparations on how the parts test will be conducted. We have made many specific forms to collect data on many parts.

August 16th

かき氷食べましたか？ お祭りに行きましたか？ 花火見ましたか？

お墓参りに行きましたか？

どれも実現していない担当者Ａです。。。

和歌山は連日猛暑に襲われカラカラでございます。

本日から会社も通常営業を開始し朝からバタバタバタバタバタバタ

バタバタしかしていません（あくまでも担当者だけがですよ）

今回はリヤラジエター化に向けて作ったアイテムを紹介。

ハッチバック車なのでスペースが限られなんとかかんとか取り付けをしています。

Lots of shave ice, festivals and fireworks displays over the last week but now the Japanese summer holidays are over and during which work has continued on the rear radiator. The radiator is fully enshrouded with large 'pull fans' to increase the air flow. Time will tell if we have made the right decision but the fuel system will need some reworking with such a big block of aluminium shroud in the same area.

August 8th

続報：順調に稼業は進んでおります

この記事を掲載する頃にはエンジンと車体が合体している

かも・・・しれない・・・予定・・・ではありますが・・・ﾖﾃｲﾊﾐﾃｲﾃﾞｽ

In the deserts temperatures are way over 40 degrees and Osaka is only hovering at 37 degrees but the high humidity takes it's toll on those where ventilation is limited as in workshops. However progress continues assembling the Tomei Engineering machined engine parts including big valves and correct tolerances on all engine parts. Installation in the race car we hope will be over the 5 day Japanese summer holiday which starts on Thursday this week then it's on to the rear radiator install and a cleanup of the car wiring harness. All sounds easy but!!!

August 1st

8月になりましたね...とにかく毎日暑いです

現在Ｏ/Ｈのエンジンもヘッド面研とシリンダーのボーリングが完了

組み立てもボチボチ進行中

さすが美しい仕上がり！虹色に光っております

見えなくなる部分だと思うとちょっと寂しい気もしますが...。

現在の予定では今月中に完成と試走に行ければな

なんて事を思いながら通常業務と並行して奮闘している毎日です。

みなさまの応援よろしくおねがいしますｗｗｗ

Damn! It's hot and humid in Japan at the moment and when the wind stops late in the afternoon it's truly like a sauna. The engine is being assembled and we hope to receive the radiator shrouding within the week which will allow the mounting points to be decided on. We hope to have the car track ready by the end of this month, August.

July 16th

少し間が空いてしまいましたが車輛は順調に修正中でございます。

エンジンヘッドはバルブガイドを打ち替えるついでにビッグバルブ化！

シリンダーブロックは面研＆スリーブ交換

ラジエターのリヤマウントブラケットも制作中

8月中にはシェイクダウンを完了したいな～と計画中です。

今回は野外イベントやピットスペースに使用する

フロアボードを輸入してみましたのでソチラの紹介でも・・・。

The rainy season is just about over but the typhoon season is just around the corner. The race car engine's head is completed with big valves and the bored block should be complete within a weeks time. The rear mounting of the radiator with it's side mounted air scoops is still waiting on some parts. We have decided on a Haltech computer which will give us control over the all systems to keep everything safe. The team are looking forward to another shakedown probably at Suzuka Twin as it is the closest major circuit.

Kinokuni is promoting pit equipment so have purchased a sample 3m X 3m tile flooring to test for the pit area. We hope other sports like go-cart, motorcycle, dirt track, BMX, garages, workshops, events etc will use this idea to upgrade their service area. The tiles are easily separated using a putty knife.

とりあえず3ｍ×3ｍ分を用意してみました。

組み合わせはとっても簡単！連結していくだけ！

縁の部品を組み合わせてもサイズに収まります。

We already have a 3m X 3m quick foldout tent which will keep some of us out of the hot sun.

Our samples of multi pin harness connectors arrived only to find that the main body was a smaller size than the adjoining parts. The aircraft connector company has an extremely complicated catalogue so we previously telephoned the company for conformation that the parts ordered would all fit together. Their reply was, "I don't know, just give me the part numbers". Nice! Have my fingers crossed that the main body reorder we go well. The 100amp manual reset breaker switch looks good and will be used.

June 18th

事件発生からようやく目途が立ち作業開始であります(｀^´)>先ずはエンジン本体のチェックから～...。前回決定したリヤラジエター作戦については基本電動ファン化するのですが空気の引き込みも行わなければならない為リヤサイドの窓を樹脂製に変更した後ダクトとダクトホースを取付ける準備もしなければなりません。特別な車輛には特別な方法で対応しなければならずまだまだ作業が続きます。
The power plant has again been removed and along with another engine stripped down so we can put together a good engine from all the good parts. After another in depth meeting it looks like the rear mounted radiator will be a reality. The radiator cooling ducts through the side windows are still up for discussion though. The Kinokuni in stock NACA air duct we think may not have enough air flow to satisfactory cool the radiator but at the same time large scoops on either side of the car would look hideous on such a small car.

June 11th

とうとう６月ですね。そうそれは日本の雨季、ＴＨＥ梅雨のシーズン到来です！！今回車輛のエンジンルーム内のスペース不足を解消する為に色々と検討を重ねた結果、ラジエター本体を車輛後部に配置しようとの意見が出てきました。すでに冷却システムのリヤマウントを経験したメンバーもいる事から大きな仕事ではありますが作業と設置は可能であると判断しました。次に燃料ポンプの件は、容量の小さなポンプに変更しました。吐出量を落として流れを穏やかにしてキャビテーションを起こさないようにするのが狙いです。最後にエンジンルーム内の配線をまとめて脱着出来るようにマルチピンコネクタをアメリカの航空機会社に注文しました。とにかく車輛の信頼性を向上させてキノクニ製品のテストを完了したいと考えています。It's T shirt weather plus we are in the rainy season so a good time to get cracking in the workshop. The radiator cooling problem could be easily solved if it wasn't for the lack of space in the Jimny engine bay. We have not been able to come up with an OEM radiator solution so are looking at relocating the custom USA radiator to the rear of the car. It's a really big job so Stacked who built the car are busy so we had the car trucked to our very professional race car fabricator SPAN, who luckily has experience with the rear mounted cooling system. He does a lot of Formula car work and is taking care of a well known 4 rotor Mazda drift car which has rear cooling with about 4X what we require.

The primary high pressure fuel pump was changed to a lower pressure pump which has stopped the aeration in the small collector tank. The return fuel line line into the main tank has a steady gentle flow so all should be great and stop the air that was reaching the injectors. Also, we have located a USA aircraft company which sells multi pin connectors so have ordered a 28 pin unit. This year we hope to complete testing many of Kinokuni's products especially when the race car becomes a reliable platform on which to test.

Last week Kinokuni's brake line and hose dept. reproduced in 2 days all the lines on a very well known Formula F1 classic car from 1990's. The dry sump oil lines were AN16. Well done.

May 22nd

ダイノテスト後に驚愕の事実が発覚・・・・・メタルブローです。。。

ドラえもんがいたら時間を戻してほしい気持ちでいっぱいです。。。

これを機にいままで手を付けていなかった部分の修正を始めようと思います！

先ずはじめにエンジン冷却の問題から。

現状使用している海外製のカスタムメイドのラジエーターが非常にぶ厚く

一度水温が上がると熱が溜まってしまい効率的に下げる事が出来ない点と

エンジンまでの距離が無く、大型の電動ファンが取付けできない事で

うまく放熱されず水温の上昇が止まらない事が大きな問題です。

次に燃料関係のレイアウトについての問題があり、

現在はメインタンク＋ボッシュポンプと、コレクタータンク＋ボッシュポンプの

大容量ポンプを２台使用している為にコレクタータンク内で泡立ちが発生、

その結果ポンプへ気泡が混入してしまうという症状が出てしまいました。

ひとまずはメインタンクからくみ上げるポンプの容量を落としてみようと思います。

どちらの問題についても部品同士のバランスが崩れた為に起こしてしまった事だと反省。。。

問題を一つずつ解決して信頼できるパッケージにしなければいけないと痛感しました。

It's retrace our steps time as after the dyno test we found lots of metal in the sump. This really hung us out to dry with the promises we had made for the biggest photo shoot groups. Regroup, repair all the small details and go to the next stage we decided. An engine strip and rebuild is the first step. The engine cooling problem will require fans with over 5X the power we have now. In an average engine bay it's a bolt in fix but the lack of space in our car bay governs decisions. First it's out with the very thick custom made radiator and in with the much thinner ones that are being used with 400hp cars now. Problem is the available radiator height is low......always problems!

The fuel collector tank had air bubbles which were entering the main circuit. The Bosch primary pump was doing it's job too well circulating a large fuel volume into the small one liter collector so will switch out to a lower volume pump.

The radiator cap was not sealing due to warping of the cap base during welding so will be rebuilt. Also looking for multi pin connections for through the bulkhead wiring.

Lots of detailed work which hopefully will make the car reliable for testing at up and coming circuit events.

May 13th

5月12日好天の中ジムニーを連れ出し次の走行に向けダイノパックでセッティングをしました。 途中マイナートラブルがチョコチョコ出ましたが、ナントカカントカ完成！係数0で400ｐｓにちょい足らずとトルクが約50kgになりました。さてさてこれから室内側の作業も残っているしやる事いっぱいです（笑）ぼちぼち頑張りま～す(～。～)#Flatwell 平井様、吉田様 ありがとうございました m(_ _)m
First time on the dynopack ( Flatwell Company) which enabled us to see close-up some of the niggling problems. The engine overheating problem has been with us from day one so we were able to look and discuss how to solve the problem. These updates need to be tested next week when the car is booked for the track by some VERY major players the names of which can't be divulged at this point. We are getting on this engine about 400bhp with 50Nm torque which is enough to wheel spin in every one of the 6 gears. When YB2 flashes past and close by, every gear shift sounds like an explosion with dust and smoke billowing behind like a rally car blasting past on a gravel road.

May 9th今年のＧＷはいかがでしたか？体がだらけきって絶好調抜け殻になっていますｗｗｗ天気の良かった某日にちょっとした撮影をしましたので報告です。他の画像もコチラからご覧になれます。ヤマチャンネル様ありがとうございました。

Over the Japanese long holiday Golden Week, Shane was working hard with another photo shoot by https://www.facebook.com/yamachannel/ Great new ideas on shooting angles plus a couple of nice models. Thanks for the continuing promotion.

ナイスなバックスタイル！

From this angle it is hard to recognize any Suzuki Jimny.

あらためて室内の画像を２枚

A couple of interior shots of the roll bar mounted rear vision mirror and the drivers work area.

非売品のセトラブ社インタークーラーコアを使用しています
The Setrab cooler core boldly mounted in the front which has not been fully tested yet but so far appears to be doing it's job.

April 25th４月２４日は富士スピードウェイで開催されたモーターファンフェスタに参加してきました。 午前中は雨は降るし霧は出るし、さすが富士！って感じのあいにくの空模様。午後には徐々回復してきましたが、そんな天候にも関わらず２０,０００人を超える多くの方がご来場され、お立ち寄りいただきありがとうございました。 これからもチョコチョコ出ていき皆様に見ていただけるよう頑張ります！
Yep! We were at Fuji and it was misty and rained almost all day but 20,000 people were there at one of largest one day race car parts event. Our 3 man team did their best like everyone else. Another big photo shoot and track test is close so we will continue to have the car out on the circuit testing Kinokuni parts.

April 17thここ数週間はメンバーそれぞれが各々のライフスタイルに戻って過ごしております。その間も今後の仕様についてや変更箇所を含む諸々のミーティングを行いました。スペアエンジンを用意するべく用意したエンジンを調べます。こちらも今以上の信頼性を向上しなければならず予算も限られている為、頭の痛い状態です。また、九州・熊本県ならびに大分県を中心に大きな地震が発生する事態となり、被災された方々には一日も早く以前の生活が戻る事をお祈りするばかりです。そして本当に関西地方も以前から言われている大きな地震が真実味を増してきました。

We have had a couple of weeks to get back into our routine life styles. The big earthquake, a couple of days ago was quite some distance away so it was not felt in our area. The major magazine photo shoot has been rescheduled for the 28th at yet an unknown circuit. At a couple of team meetings we discussed how to sustain reliability from the car plus we are also already thinking of how to display in the next Tokyo Auto Salon. As always the project's budget has to be kept and balanced against many factors as it is easy to blow out a race cars budget beyond that of the original business goals set.

Stripped down one of our previously used engines with obvious signs of unwanted debris having passed through the combustion chamber. Bore to piston clearance was also excessive but finding a good block these days in Japan is becoming difficult and

expensive leading to the option of boring and sleeving the block.

Ａｐｒｉｌ ２ｎｄニットータイヤ公式フェイスブックに取り上げていただきましたありがとうございます m(_ _)m
Nitto Tires has placed a link to an article on the race car on their company Facebook.

March 30th３月１４日に行われた取材についての情報が解禁になりましたので告知です！長年にわたり #芸文社 様から発刊されている「#カスタムＣＡＲ」で、カラーページに掲載いただける事になりました！当日は朝から雨が降っており午前中は外で撮影する予定でしたが結構な雨量もあり急遽スタジオ撮影に変更になりました。朝9：00にスタジオ到着して、車輌をスタジオの中に移動します。全身ズブ濡れ状態になっている車輛をフキフキする事１時間・・・撮影が10：00頃からはじまり、車輌を移動して、ライティングして 、撮影して・・・また車輌を移動して、ライティングして 、撮影して・・・またまた車輌を移動して、ライティングして 、撮影して・・・途中モデルのおネーさんが14：00頃到着撮影は順次進んでいきますその間に制作の意図や使用パーツなどなど編集部の方とお話をさせていただきました。撮影も終了して、片づけして、挨拶して、出発したのが19：30スタジオの中も撮影の為、窓は塞がれた状態で暗いし時間の感覚が狂ってしまうほど。本格的なスタジオ撮影は初めての経験でしたので非常に有意義な１日になりました。#カスタムＣＡＲの発売は４月１日です！ぜひ全国の書店・コンビニ等でお買い求めください。Finally a major Japanese magazine, Custom Car has published the photo shoot of YB2 on April 1st. The car studio was 1 1/2 hours drive from us and it took them all day to photograph and take interviews. Three full colour pages plus the nice model.The major Japanese magazine that did the rained out shoot in Fuji has cancelled the days shoot. They wish to do the whole thing again in sunny weather but when and where is up to them. At this level they invite you so a telephone call and some money doesn't work in this case.

ＴＺコンシェル様のＦＲ仕様になったスズキ:ハスラーと一緒に！
Another car was being shot at the same time, it is a Suzuki Hustler.

March 22nd

去る3/21に富士スピードウェイに行ってきました。今回も取材です。ビッグネームなメディアです。しかも超が付く有名なドライバーがゲストです。 （でも、今は名称を記載できません、ごめんなさい）
A very busy week for the whole team who had the pressure piled on to get the car in it's best condition for the drive from Japan's leading driver. Well, that was the plan.

満を持すために前回からエンジンとミッションを降ろし色々と走行に支障が無いようメンテナンスを行います。

On Monday there was a successful photo shoot for a big publisher then the engine/trans. was pulled out. The car was designed to lift the body to expose the bare frame but it was found that we can drop the engine/trans plus front suspension unit rather quickly by using a lift and a rolling bench to support the total unit.

The clutch was worn thin due to the clutch line being too small to allow quick fluid flow return resulting in clutch slip.

It was decided to change the 350hp motor with a 500hp motor to better show off the cars potential for the up and coming pro driver at the next photo shoot. After long hours at night the engine tested well and taken to Suzuka-twin for another track test. We received an urgent phone call to say that the power steering banjo fittings were leaking. The race car has very limited space in that area so Kinokuni's aluminium banjo and 'O' ring bolt would not slide into position so it was decided to use copper washers which allowed the bolt to barely enter the banjo. When the extra torque was applied on the bolt to seal the fitting the bolt elongated. A steel bolt was used which sealed the leak but started to crush the banjo. We will have to cut some of the chassis rail to allow the original Kinokuni system to do it's job.

オーバーヒートを起こす問題も少しずつ原因がわかり

そっちも対応に追われます。

During testing in the late afternoon and next couple of days the 500hp engine overheated destroying most major components. The theory is that the top radiator hose was not allowing enough water into the water pump which was then cavitating resulting in very little cooling of this high strung motor. It was on Sunday, the evening of which we had to leave for Fuji when the engine expired.

結局なんだかんだ深夜3：30ａｍまでかかり、何とか形にして

富士へ向け出発する事になりました。

Another engine 400hp was changed out but work continued till 3.30am in an open yard beside the sea in freezing cold conditions. The peace and quiet of the port area was shattered as we tested the car. Noise, hell yes! Speed, damn it's fast. The 6 speed requires constant quick changes as the car wheel spins in every gear With a 5 1/2 hour drive to Fuji for the 8am photo shoot the pressure was on. Good news was that the weather forecast was no wind, no rain but a cold 6 degrees max.

We made it in the appointed time with no time to spare. Yep! The magazine staff were waiting for us. Japan is so punctual. Doesn't anyone over sleep in this country?

朝から雨です。しかもココだけ雨です。シトシトと降り続いています。
The weather forecast can usually be relied on in Japan but this time it was misty and drizzling. 400hp in a 800kg chassis on a soaking wet track does not mix so all plans went out the window and was reduced to the exhaustive photo shoot, interviews plus the pro driver sliding around on the rain soaked drift course.インタビュー受けてますけど？！
Who is photo bombing the interview?

今回の天候条件が悪く、色々な部品がむき出しな状態で装着されている為

それが仇になってしまい良い状態での走行が出来なかった事もあり

次回仕切り直しとゆう結果になりました。

ドライバーや撮影スタッフ の方々には申し訳ない気持ちでいっぱいです。

次回の際はしっかり対策含めがんばります。

Our day was to get busy when the pro driver took to the track as our wild 8000 rpm motor was reduced to 3,500 due to misfiring. Shock and disappointment all round. With help from the computer it was diagnosed as the MAF sensor being in contact with water due to wheel spray entering the ground hugging air filter. The team got together and created a protective cover, but alas all was in in vain as the misfiring continued. The photo shoot was a success in that the magazine wants to do it all again in better conditions. There was another pro driver with a wild great sounding JZX 90 Toyota Cresta who did some practice laps. Impressive was him practicing getting the car angled half way down the straight and keeping it this way through the corner. The mag. pro driver went out together with him to check it out in the slippery conditions. When they came back I eaves dropped on their conversation. The Cresta driver asked about the cars handling to which our pro driver said the Jimny was much easier to handle with very little steering input required once the steering angle was set. Naturally the Cresta's driver jaw dropped at hearing that. "YB2 has a great, well balanced suspension set up" he continued.

After a big meal together at a local tonkatsu (pork cutlets) restaurant was the long journey home for the 13 member team in the truck and 3 cars. Bitterly cold at 11pm the car was off loaded and given a final blast up the road to release some pent up frustration and to wake up the neighbours. Holy cow! The misfire was gone, screaming at max revs and so was the car in a cloud of dust and rubber smoke. Believe me. it's fast. Theoretically with the 400hp motor it can do the 1/4 mile in 10.2 sec. at 225km/h.and with the 500hp setup 9.6secs, at 250km/h. We have tried some drag slicks and it really digs down and hooks up well. That's some seriously good times.

Happy days are here again.... It appears that the MAF sensor is not broken so it was just water interfering with the AF signal. Three engines in one week is expensive, disheartening and a lot of work for the team that hold down regular jobs.

One of the team does hydro dipping which you can see on the cars cam cover. This created much interest.

The magazine looked very carefully at Kinokuni's bonnet one touch button pins, the height adjustable drift brake and a variety of other parts.

It will be great to test it again on a dry track to test the good looking Fortune Auto shocks.

On a side note we have been asked not to add the photo shoot photos until after the publishers get the magazines on the shelves

March 15th2/25に行った取材がとうとう世に出る形になりました！特集記事として表紙とカラー4ページに熱い記事と共に掲載されています。ぜひとも全国の書店・コンビニ等でお買い求めください！

We are testing the car, mainly the Fortune Auto suspension plus revamped clutch and brakes at Suzuka today. There will be another track test in the next few days to iron out some details and more ideas to be ready for Japan's biggest car magazine publisher who are sending Japan's most popular Pro driver to test run the car and of course a DVD and photo shoot. They have DVD's with their magazines. The pressure is on.

２０１６年はＳＲジムニーをガンガン外に連れ出したいと思ってますのでイベント主催者様にはどうぞゲストとしてご招待いただけます様オファーをお待ちしています。m(_ _)m
Kinokini parts are getting a good workout as testing is also part of the program. I also heard that a hill climb is on the event list.ちなみにドリフト以外のジャンル、グリップ・タイムアタック・ドラッグetcも大歓迎です！
So many magazines and internet sites all over the world in various languages are publishing the race car details. Doriten, the leading drift magazine has YB2 on the front cover3/14（月）は国内のカスタムカーを取り上げ続ける某誌の取材があります。現段階ではシークレットということで、発売が近くなった時に改めて告知します。初回走行で発覚したトラブルも徐々に解消しつつリメイクしてます
The
car is going to a photo shoot on Monday for another major magazine
which will publish on 25th so all is secret till then. We are also
testing the clutch and other problems that we noticed at the first shake
down.こちらも海外メディアから
So many articles on the car now but here is a write up from Auto Evolution using the #Noriyaro video.

March 8th先日の#スズカツインサーキットで行ったシェイクダウンの模様を#noriyaroのユーチューブ動画にアップしてもらいました。Ａｌｅｘｉさん本当にありがとうございますm(_ _)m
Big thanks to Alexi for producing this great video of the YB2 on it's shakedown at the Suzuka Twin Circuit. We detuned the engine into a safe mode, still 320hp in an 800 kg chassis was more than enough to show the chassis's neutral balance characteristics.

Mar.1st2月25日に初走行した動画です！撮影・編集はM-MAGIC ＧＡＲＡＧＥが担当しました。（携帯で簡単撮影した分ですが・・・）
Finally found a video taken by M-Magic Garage, rather grainy, of the race car running around the Suzuka twin circuit on it's shakedown. Like the driver said, it looks very stable with a balanced stiff chassis.

Feb. 26thアメリカで有名な「ドライビングライン」ＷＥＢマガジンに特集されました。
Here is the write up of YB2 by Jonathan Wong of #Drivingline magazine.

The shakedown went well with only minor problems. Clear sunny skies but cold. The photo shoot took a long time after which the car testing was done by the car creator, Shane.

"It's better than I thought," was his first comment.

午前中：記者からの質問に細かく答えつつ同時に車輛の撮影も進みます。撮影も前後を変えて、角度を変えて、場所を変えてと行われます。

Car's suspension and balance was great, easy to drive with a question mark on the brakes which maybe a brake pad problem. Engine mapping was tweaked plus we were able to check some #Kinokuni parts some of which did not perform well but this may have been caused by other factors so will bring back the data for further study.

After the photo shoot we were able to get YB2 on the track to get the first evaluations of it's characteristics which turned out to be well balanced with no major catastrophes. Some time for tuning was possible and to evaluate some #Kinokuni products. With the base car in a proven state we can now get into product testing and car improvement with more confidence.

Feb. 23rd.２月２５日にスズカツインサーキットでシェイクダウン＆雑誌取材が決定し急ピッチで仕上げ作業を行います。－画像１枚目－前後バランスを調整する為、50㎏の鉄の塊をリヤエンドにマウント！これでなんとかバランスはとれるかな？？？－画像2枚目－黙々と配線作業に追われている横でブーストかけて遊んでるおちゃめなメンバーが・・・。（そんな彼はスゴ腕な溶接職人です）
The first shakedown is 33hrs away so it's all hands on deck to have the car ready for Suzuka twin circuit and of course the magazine photo shoot. The first photo is the rear end of the car with a 50kg. steel bar bolted to the chassis. The car weight balance was a 70/30 split biased to the front which would have made the car undrivable so the weight was added at the rear. So many details to make it a real car is so time consuming. We found that the rear s/s brake lines needed to be 5 cm longer so they wouldn't break off on full suspension droop, brake rotors were warped, shock springs were too hard, proper battery cables for the lithium battery, needed hand brake and drift brake and so the list continues.

February 17th

今回は動画の紹介です

2016 東京オートサロン会場内にて超超有名なレーシングドライバー

#谷口信輝選手＆ドリフト天国ＤＶＤに「気になる珍車」として取り上げていただきました！

ありがと～ございま～すm（_ _）m

At the Tokyo Auto Salon the largest Japan car magazine publisher, Option/Drift Tengoku along with their interviewer, Taniguchi who is the most popular race car driver. He interviewed Shane who is the car's designer. They talked about where Shane was from, the car's Silvia and Jimny base, said the interior looked very OEM, side step graphics are not stickers but laser cut, fuel system using Kinokuni san(Mr.) parts, the rear to have a bulkhead to protect the driver and finally a shakedown of the car is anticipated by all.

We have another top monthly magazine Doriten, offering a front page spread for 'YB2' (Yellow Bullet 2) with the photo shoot scheduled at Suzuka next week. The team are working hard to have YB2 in race ready condition. Good luck team for fine weather and let's see the photos and videos of the action.

February 12今回は画像の紹介です。2016 東京オートサロンの特集にて「#Stancenation」様で取り上げていただきました！ありがとうございますm(_ _)m
Another online mag. Stancenation.com has added our TAS2016 display to their site.
Great photos so thanks very much.

さらに後方からの画像も！素敵なヒップになっております（笑）
More rear shots from another on line magazine Bigway Shop.

2016 February 7thとりあえず動いているのですが、まだまだ作業は残っています。各種配線や燃料システム、ハンドブレーキなど新たに取付けする物があったりローターやスプリングを交換したり、作業リストを用意して またまた取り掛かります。Well at least we know that thesystems are working and the car needs a lot more weight at the rear. We have a plan in place to have the car finished and enter a series of events. This will allow media coverage and to test Kinokuni's products. It will also give the many groups who have helped build the car over the last 3 years to finally see the fruits of their efforts. So far the MSD ignition has allowed a trouble free easy revving engine with over 350bhp but the lack of an internal bulkhead behind the driver means burnouts are only fun for those outside the car. Final wiring, a safety platform for the fuel system, new rotors, handbrake and a change of spring rates are among the list of work that needs to worked on. I hear that a really nice rear diffuser is on the list plus a wild rear wing.

Ｊａｎｕａｒｙ 26ｔｈ♪積車の車窓から♪思い出の一枚です、富士山をバックに記念撮影
On the way back from the show Ewan had the time and energy left to take this photo showing Mt Fuji trying to hide herself in cloud and snow.

January 21st帰阪後、今度はアメリカのＤＲＩＶＩＮＧＬＩＮＥの取材を受けています。
Back in Osaka #Drivingline internet magazine was busy with a photo shoot on a rather cold wharf area. Thanks Jonathan for braving the elements.

会場搬入前の一コマ、ＳＰＥＥＤＨＵＮＴＥＲＳにハントされました（笑）
#Speedhunters took this photo before the car was off loaded and driven into the show hall.

January 17th2016東京オートサロンが終了しました。ご来場いただきました皆さま本当にありがとうございました。今回の出来はいかがでしたでしょうか？賛同は大歓迎！非難は受付していません（笑）支えてくれたスタッフに感謝です！
After the successful show the crew lined up for this photo.
So many who all have done professional work to make the car very unique.

ジムニーにきっちりＳＲ２０を収めました。これから、ジャンジャン走らせる計画ですが、あくまでも予定です！
The biggest draw was the shock of having a 350hp SR20 motor in a Suzuki Jimny.

今回のブースは#HardTunedとのコラボになりました。そしてスタッフのユニフォームデザインもお願いしました！
We had a lot of help from Hard Tuned whose apparel products can be seen hanging on the wall. They supplied and designed the uniforms.

そして日付が変わった月曜日、高速道路のＳＡでの一コマです。普段会社の周辺では見かけない量の雪に運転も怖々（汗）何とか無事に到着しました。
On the way home the weather was not kind to us at all.

Jan. 13th東京オートサロンに向け出発します！安全運転でがんばりま～す(＾o＾)/
What a grand effort from some hard working guys and tonight it goes on the truck to Tokyo. Down to the wire so lets hope all the blood sweat and tears have been worth it. Have a safe 6 hour drive to Tokyo.

Jan. 11thなんとか最終段階にこぎつけました。時間もだんだんに少なくなってきています。突発的なトラブルは出るし部品は壊れるし、もう大変（汗）毎日遅くまで頑張ってくれています。
The race car is on the final stage for the Tokyo Show preparations.
Like any project it's the details that screw up a fixed time table.
A day was lost due to trouble shooting a tuning problem which finally was determined as a broken new fuel gauge.
The large black contraption in the front of the car is what we hope will provide the interest in the car and the Kinokuni booth so our fingers are crossed.
The crew are working ridiculous hours preparing the car so a very big thank you for tired eyes, cold feet, cuts, bruises and patience.

2016 Jan. 1stあけましておめでとうございますなんとかココまでこぎつけました、完成は間もなくか？？？現状は前後バランスが70対30なので遊園地のコーヒーカップ並みにクルクル回る予定（笑）リヤのウエイト考えなければ・・・。
It's looking like a finished product so Happy New Year 2016.
What are they gonna do with those pipes?
The car has a weight balance of 70/30 which will make it drive like a merry go round.
We need some serious weight at the back.

December 31st.も～い～くつ寝ると・・・、年末です。３１日です。まだまだバタバタしています・・・orzオートサロンに向けて誠意制作中、時間が有ったら見てね！小間番号116です。
The team is working hard and it's New Years Eve.
If you have no family commitments then Japan away from the major city centres is very quiet so no better time to do something with friends.
If you look closely the TAS idea for the car to stand out can be seen a little.

December 26thオートサロンまで３週間ですが・・・作業はチビチビと進行中、まだまだパイプの制作物はあるし。とりあえずインタークーラー用パイプの取付け完了（パチパチパチ）スイッチ関係のレイアウト・位置だしも、なんとかかんとか がんばってます。

With the TAS only 3 weeks away on Jan.14th which is the booth set day we have been getting the small bits and pieces finished step by step.Every small piece takes so many hours.The pipe plumbing is almost there and the basic wiring to get the car moving has started.

The Setrab intercooler finally has the end tanks in place and plumbed up.

With the large Kinokuni inventory of pipe sizes Run Max turbo hoses (P.258) and pipe bends (P.262) T Bolt clamps (P.261) the process was not difficult plus the infinite choices has resulted with a very small number of welds.

Lots of discussions on what switches and fuses (P.309) to use, how many and engine start up procedure. Battery cut off ON, Ignition ON, Primary fuel pump to the collector tank ON, Main Pump ON, Fuel pressure check.

Engine Start Push.......music starts.

We are using fuses that have an LED light that flashes when the fuse is broken.

How cool is that!

The engine and power steer reservoir tanks will go on next week as will the body components.

December 19th合間を見てサスペンション関係の塗装をしてます。直接販売している製品ではないので地味に地味～にペイントこの季節はペイントも乾きづらいな～。 Lots of detail work going on to have the car driven into the TAS. Working hard on the plumbing and reconditioned a set of suspension uprights. Painting in the now cold winter conditions plus lack of time between coats means that the paint finish was compromised.

December 17th.オートサロンも間近になった１２月中旬 ですが、まだまだ作業があります。
Well
it's down to the wire again as we are getting very close to the 2016
Tokyo Auto Salon with still a lot of work yet to be done.
It
looks like we have made last minute arrangements with an Australian race
team management and marketing team that will take some of the strain
from our small team of staff.
Lets hope that the TAS will be a
success and that Kinokuni's internet presence will help all facets of
our business in the coming year.
It'll be quite a new Kinokuni
presence at TAS so we hope to welcome all who can make the trip to the
one of the worlds top 3 race car, custom and street tuning shows.
With over 450 booths, 900 cars plus booth babes everywhere, the show has reached it's hall space capacity.

November 20th.仕事が山積みです。燃料関係部分だけでも５０か所に及ぶ接続箇所があります。漏れる箇所も出てきたし、修正に追われます。。。
Found some time for more work on the car.
The fuel system is proving difficult get sealed with it's over 49 connections.
Now it is down to the swaged pipe connections that are not perfect each time they are made and will have to remake the fuel filter intake line one more time as it is the only one weeping after checking everything and made real tight.
The joint looks clean but it leaks so a new pipe is the next step.ラジエターやインタークーラーの配管を考えるのが大変～周りからは「仕事してよね～」って声が聞こえてきそう。サボってないですけど。。。
The radiator pipes are ready for welding as are the intercooler pipes.
Another wild almost stupid but exciting external feature has been looked into to make the car stand out from the hundreds of displays at the TAS.
Not my cup of tea but we can only try and bin it if the TAS result is bad.

November 2nd.パイプやホースが沢山あるので時間がかかります。燃料・ブレーキ・ラジエター・インタークーラーなどなど
Many
hours put in to layout the lines and hoses.
Fabricated brackets and got
most of the brake and fuel lines designed and plumbed.
Within a couple
of days we should have the systems screwed up and ready to test for
leaks.
The water lines for the heater have been pulled off as they take
up valuable space and a new pipe spaghetti has been welded up.ガソリンが漏れてきちゃって大変！！あやうく火事です。って事は無いですけど・・・火気厳禁ですね！

Fuel system wired up to test for fuel leaks and there were many.

Gasoline was all over the floor. My hands were burning and great frustration at not having it sealed on the first try.

Bosch pumps 044 and 979's have big and small terminals. We have a rubber silencer on the 979 so unable to see the terminal marks so we wired it up the same as the 044 with the large terminal being positive. Wrong! The 979 is the opposite we realized an hour later by then we had fuel all over the floor from the millions of fitting leaks but happy faces.

First problem was the s/s lines had been assembled but not swaged. Out came the lines, crimped and so the process continued.

Because of the tools available there is a minimum pipe length between the pipe flare and the bends.The car required tighter dimensions which apparently compromised the lower filter pipe flare quality which had to be remade.

October 16th必要な部分のスケッッチを沢山メモメモ・・・キノクニのカタログから必要な物を選択中です。
Designing the layout of pipes and lines is harder than I thought. Lots of thinking goes on with sketches to find the best solution for running the lines. Also noting the pages in the 370 page Kinokuni catalogue where to find the adapters and parts.

配管レイアウトを検討中。パイプや配線、その他いろいろとお悩み中。。。
Also started adding discarded lines lying around the shop to better understand the space that is taken up by the fittings and how the long fuel lines can run along the chassis. Because of the upward bend at the rear and front the fuel lines which have to be threaded between the transmission mount and body they will have to be made in 2 pieces to allow assembly without distorting the original shape. The brake lines support brackets can use the Kinokuni shock mounting kit. Quick release fittings on the master cylinders and the engine fuel log.

ハンドブレーキとプッシュ式ブレーキロックバルブの取付け場所を模索中。
The rear brake line runs through the drift brake and the new Kinokuni push on/off handbrake on it's way to the rear cross member to a 3 way brake brass block.

October 10thキノクニに向かって出発～。関西空港そばを通過・・・道のりは遠いね！
Finally the car gets a ride to the Kinokuni workshops for the final fit out. Shot is passing the tallest building in West Japan at 54 stories high and mainly a hotel for the Osaka Kansai Airport KIX which is 5 km across a bridge behind the hotel.

キノクニの駐車場に到着！
In the Kinokuni carpark with Roberto watching proceedings and wearing his Tokyo Show 2015 Kinokuni project sweat shirt.

トラックから降ろします。
In comes the fork lift for a delicate lift off the truck.

見学中
The Kinokuni girl's team helping with the proceedings.

キノクニのリフトに乗りました、でもまだ終わってはいません。これから各所のブラケットを設計・制作して、アレして、コレして..........orz
On the lift inside Kinokuni. We worked hard but didn't finish designing the many brackets for the chassis pipes, remote oil filter, clutch and brake quick release etc. so that we can have the engine purring ASAP.

October 8th深夜の作業はまだまだ続きます。

内装が着くと車らしくなりますね～。。。

Burning more very late night oil the body is back on the car with the interior looking like a real car.

ホイールを装着して着地！最終段階に近づいてきました。パっと見は簡単そうですが、緻密な位置だしに相当時間を使っています。
Well we have the wheels on and the suspension tower braces so another step to the final fitting out which we all know looks easy but with so many details it takes time.

エンジンも最終段階！

夜な夜な深夜の作業中...。間もなく組み上がるかな？？？

Still looking for time to work on the car but at 3 am we got this far with the final assembly. Well done guys.

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Sept. 19th

バルクヘッドになる板を溶接してます。

After a lot of thought, adjusting and welding the firewall is ready for preparing for paint as well as the body interior will get a splash as well.

September 18th

ロールバーのペイントも仕上がりました！

後はボディー＆シャシーに取付け。

Roll bars looking great with the final paint and assembled ready for bolting into into the body and chassis.

September

９月になりました。例年に比べ寒い日が続きます。

シャシーは塗装が上がってきました！

The weather is getting cooler and the chassis is back from getting sprayed to show quality.

August

１日で終わる作業ではありません。

合間を縫ってチョコチョコ進めています。

仕上がったらピッカピカのフレームになる・・・はず・・・です・・・。 いやぁ～暑い！

Another day of wisdom from the team.

It seems that your weakest hand has the best ability to feel scratches and bumps in paint.

Also Scotch-Brite 400 grit is easy to use to get the primmer finish that will just clear the lower limit for paint to make a smooth final gloss.

I guess we learn something new every day....thanks guys.

It's now into August so the sun is beating down fiercely but work goes on getting the frame and roll bar pipes ready for painting to a show car standard so water and 600 grit finish took a long time.

ブレースを追加してさらに「カッチカチ！」を目指します！？

The cross brace for the rear of the roll bar and the suspension rear uprights received more strength.

ボディーと切り離したフレームは塗装を行うためにサンディングとプライマー処理をしました。

At the same time in a different workshop the rolls bars were being finished. The hoop behind the seat will be the frame for the bulkhead to separate the driver from the rear area. The supports for the panel and rear window were welded in and brought to the yard for sanding and primering.

これはＢピラー部分に取付けします。

Here is the roll bar hoop installed behind the driver

あまりに暑いので陽が落ち着いてから再開。

しっかり磨いて塗装にまわします。

Work continued till after the sun went down and got most parts ready for the silver flake paint and the several lacquer coats to make it glisten to show, 'don't touch me' quality.

The scratch free pipes are all wrapped in blankets for transportation to the painters.

With only a 5cm ride height I'm going to kill the first guy who puts this car into a gravel trap.

He is going to have to dig it out himself.

July

暑いけど・・・作業中。

ゆかいな仲間が訪ねてきました！

ということで記念に１枚。

Well it's getting close to having the chassis 2 pack painted so the complete car stripped to bare bones today.

ミッションマウントの位置を変更中。

なかなか思うようにいかないものですね。。。

Ahh! Alas the transmission mount has never been in the perfect position so out came the grinder to have it moved 10mm into the perfect position under the gearbox so that the urethane mount will support the weight without cracking...perfection.

人数がいれば作業がはかどるし

なんとかなるさ！でがんばってます。

How many times do you have to break down and reinstall components to get the fit just right in any project however when if you are lucky and there are many hands it makes light work.

June

大掛かりの作業の合間を見て新たにダッシュパネルの制作も着手！

付けては外しの繰り返し、気温が上がると思考能力が低下するのでケガだけしない様に。

The weather in June is getting humid and hot and the car has the extra roll bar pipes welded in. The interior is well on the way with great looking foot plates and console. Seats are in place so getting ready for another strip down for final chassis paint.

.ナイスなフットプレートが完成！

毎日毎日ＣＡＤＣＡＤして曲げ曲げしてポコポコして・・・あ"～！！

These are too nice to put your feet on but perfect for getting your feet to pedal height. .

♪只今考え中～♪

イヤイヤさぼってるだけじゃん！！

The team deep in thought on the basic wiring layout.

The accelerator has gone through a major cut, slash and bend to allow the remote cable to control the brake bias a straight shot into the brake balance bar shaft.

ケーブルはドコに通そうかな？？？難問です。

Pedals are in along with the foot plates. The remote cable for the brake balance bar was really difficult to install as the cable was interfering with the accelerator pedal.

May 2015

さて再開です。

フレームの溶接作業にロールバーの取付け、塗装もあるしブラケットの追加も・・・。

やる事だらけですけど、どうしましょ。

って、まだ配管関係はその後なので何時になったら完成するのでしょう？

We are again back on track with the final push to have the race car on the track testing our company's products.
Final welding of chassis, roll bar, paint plus more CAD brackets from Kawai Works then it's off to Kinokuni for the plumbing, new dash and final tune before a track day

January 2015

東京オートサロンから 毎日毎日深夜まで作業、多くの人にお手伝いいただきました。

感謝しても足りません（あっざーす！）

で、突然ですがディスプレイはこんな感じです。

離れて見たら走ってる感じにしたのですが・・・伝わるかな・・・？

So much midnight oil burnt by many people and the car is at last literally slid into the Kinokuni Tokyo Show booth.

予めカットしたスペースに移動するには50ｍｍしか余裕が無い事が判明！

あらっ？タイトに設計やりすぎたか？？？？？

ちなみに、反対側は中身が見えるようにしてます。

ＭＳＤが付いて、苦心の燃料パートが見えて、インパネ周りも。

With only a 50mm ride height the car was VERY difficult to slide into the pre-cut wall. That wrapped titanium exhaust caused itchy skin for weeks for the person who volunteered for the job. MSD ignition has been set up to provide a powerful spark when the turbo is on boost.

イベント終了後に１枚！みんな疲れて若干テンションダウンしています（笑）

The crew that helped put the show car together lined up at the end of the show just before the booth was torn down.

December

エンジンルームのパイプレイアウトは難しいぞ・・・まだまだ時間かかりそう。。。

In such a small car space is always going to be a problem so many configurations were discussed. Within the engine bay lines and pipe positions took a lot of time. The race car was taken back to Stacked's garage for final finishing on Dec. 19th.

November 17th

とりあえずホイールを装着して着地、から～キノクニへ移動です。

On it's wheels just, but oh so much more work to do. It was taken to Kinokuni where much of the show related work was done but it was show time is just around the corner.

アイデアがどんどん出てくるのでとりあえずスケッチ（忘れちゃうので・・・）

燃料関係の保護を目的に収納する箱をデザイン

Below is one of the many sketches of ideas that probably will not be used but provide another step to the final design. This one is a box to protect (from dust, burning rubber etc) the fuel system as there is no floor at the rear of the car.

スペースが無い小さな車輛なので大変。

At the same time the body, frame and roll bar all had to be placed in the best positions to accommodate everything in such a small car's confined spaces.

作業再開、イベント出展終了後は実際に走行させる予定です。

燃料タンク周辺を準備中、新しいタイプのコレクタータンクが出来たのでレイアウトのやり直し。

（そうゆうことは先に言ってよね.......。）

We started full steam ahead to get the show car ready and worry about the race car after the show. The fuel system had been made one year previously and shown in the Tokyo Show but since that time Kinokuni developed a collector tank with an in tank Bosch pump so it was back to redesign the layout plus we realized the rear suspension hoops left no space for the design of 1 year ago. System number 3 should be a go.

ワイヤー（針金ともいう）を使って考え中。

So out with the wires again to get the basic line layout.

アルミチューブを曲げ曲げ

More patience bending the pipes.

ポンプは振動が出るのでホースを使って振動対策

BUT! Due to the expected pump vibrations we added a Kevlar/Teflon and a s/s braided flex line and also to show Kinokuni's products.

ＣＡＤのデータをプレス機に入力！

ガセット制作も簡単カンタンかんたん。

A CAD drawing then inputted into the brake press bender again at Kawai Works for another fuel pump and filter mount and roll bar gussets.

October

東京オートサロン出展に向けて別のボディーを用意！

半分に切っちゃいました（汗）

まぁ、外装屋さんではないので・・・。

At this time we realized that getting the car ready for the Tokyo Auto Salon would require another body, cut in half for easy visual access to Kinokuni products.

A white donor car was found and cut in half. cut .

日差しの射し込む中、最終のプライマー作業してますが、倒れそう・・・。

The frame was finally ready for a primmer coat in the summer sun..

October 11th 2014さてさて、メンバーとホイールのペイント準備中。

まだまだ色々仕事があるなぁ...。

Quite a time jump and we got onto the preparation of painting the sub frames and wheels. Many hours went into this work but our pro painter made the result worthwhile.

とりあえず磨いて掃除して...からのプライマーと仕上げ。

After the basic grinding and cleaning came the primer coats and final coats.

October 2014

フレームはミリ単位の調整中！

ブラケットは奈良県にあるカワイワークス様で制作しています

（ご協力いただき感謝ですｍ（＿ ＿）ｍ）

Our in house pro Aussie welder was busy getting the space frame millimetre perfect and adding the brackets produced by Kawai Works direct from CAD drawings to the water cutter and bender making pieces of art in steel.

June 2014

完成形を想像しながらの作業が続きます。

We purchaseda body which can be used to calculate many decisions and locations for the final car. Finding time to work on the car has become a major problem with so much more urgent work to do within the companies involved.

November 29th2013

寒いのでコンテナの中に移動！

メインフレームに合わせてフロントメンバーを加工しています。

パイプフレームはアメリカ製のベンダーを使って制作、プロ用だけど安かった。

As the winter set in we moved the chassis and parts into a container. Here the front cross member has been notched to accept the chassis rails. The space frame pipes have been bent using an American bender which has made professional bends at a reasonable price

July

エンジンとミッションをとりあえず載せてみた・・・。どうなることやら。。。

Here is a test setup we have been playing with, the engine/mission is supported off the ground, while a scrap Jimny body has been placed over the top for clearance inspection. We will be using this dummy body as a guide throughout the build.

とりあえずＴＥ３７／１７ｉｎで合わせてみた。

Heres the dummy body sitting over the engine and transmission, testing the looks of some Rays TE37 in 17 inch.

フェンダーをカット、ホイールサイズの確認・確認。

Cutting the fenders out with the plasma cutter so we can test fit some wheels into our dummy body.

About Me

For many years Kinokuni was a tuning shop using top brand products from the USA. Obtaining quality parts quickly at a good price was always a problem for us and other tuning shops. We built a large warehouse to keep a very big stock so that racers could get any part the next day. RunMax series is the brand name for Kinokuni Enterprise's original series so as to have control over quality and product design. Give us a call, we will be happy to hear from you.